Leslie Massey
Australia's political landscape is characterised by a two-party system, with a strong coalition between the Liberal Party and the National Party. The country has maintained a stable liberal democratic system since Federation in 1901, with compulsory voting. Australians' political attitudes are influenced by various factors, including their position on the left-right spectrum and their trust in institutions, as well as their views on key issues such as climate change and economic management. Surveys and studies provide insights into Australians' satisfaction with democracy, their confidence in the federal government, and the impact of social and economic factors on their political views.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political System | Liberal democratic |
| Party System | Two-party system with a coalition between the Liberal Party and National Party; other parties include the Greens, Teal Independents, and minor parties |
| Voting | Compulsory |
| Federal Government | Consists of the party or coalition with majority support in the lower house, exercising executive and legislative power |
| Federal Parliament | Bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) |
| Executive | Prime Minister, Cabinet, other ministers, and government departments |
| Judicature | High Court of Australia and other federal courts |
| Head of State | Monarch (currently King Charles III) |
| Governor-General | Representative of the monarch, performing most functions of the head of state |
| Satisfaction with Democracy | Broad satisfaction, particularly among younger and university-educated Australians |
| Trust in Institutions | Distrust in federal government and social media; trust influenced by economic and social factors like financial stress and loneliness |
| Climate Action | Majority consider emissions reduction important, but political preference and educational attainment affect level of importance |
| Confidence in Government | Increased confidence in the Federal Government compared to 2020 and 2008 |
| Populism | Decreased support for statements related to populism in January 2023 compared to August 2018 |
| Role of Government | Mixed views, with some groups less satisfied and seeking more support in areas like unemployment |
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What You'll Learn
Voter satisfaction and trust in institutions
Voter satisfaction and trust in Australian institutions have been influenced by a range of factors, including the country's two-party political system, compulsory voting, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australia's political system has been characterised as a de facto two-party system, with a long-standing coalition between the Liberal Party and the National Party. The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is another major party, and minor parties like the Greens, Teal Independents, and others also have a presence in Parliament. Compulsory voting in Australia means that turnout is high, and this has implications for voter satisfaction and trust.
In January 2023, a survey by the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods found that Australians' confidence in the Federal Government had increased since 2020, with almost twice as many Australians confident in their government compared to January 2020. The survey also revealed that three-quarters of Australians were satisfied with democracy in the country and with the direction it was heading in. However, the same survey found that financial stress was a significant concern, with almost half of Australians considering rising prices a "very big problem".
The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted voter satisfaction and trust. Wellbeing measures, including life satisfaction and psychological distress, improved since their lowest levels during the pandemic. However, life satisfaction remained lower than pre-pandemic levels, and financial stress measures were higher.
Trust in institutions has varied, with a decline in confidence in churches and religious institutions over time. In contrast, Australians expressed more confidence in the public service and the Federal Government in 2023 compared to 2008. A study by POLIS: The Centre for Social Policy Research in October 2024 revealed broad satisfaction with the country's direction and democracy, especially among younger and university-educated Australians. However, this study also found persistent distrust in key institutions like the federal government and social media. Economic and social factors, including financial stress and loneliness, were associated with lower satisfaction with democracy and reduced trust in institutions.
Voter attitudes in Australia are also influenced by their placement on the left-right political spectrum and their party identification. Voters tend to disagree on the best ways to deliver outcomes, such as economic management, rather than the importance of these issues. Spatial politics, where voters place themselves on the political spectrum and identify with a particular party, plays a more significant role in Australian politics than in similar countries like the UK, Canada, and the US. Party identification is influenced by various factors, including socialising influences, and shapes how voters perceive and relate to political parties.
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Party identification
Compulsory voting in Australia may contribute to this phenomenon, as it encourages citizens to weigh up their options differently compared to countries with voluntary voting. Australian political parties also behave differently due to the absence of a need to motivate citizens to vote, resulting in less dramatic campaign tactics.
The two-party system in Australia, dominated by the Liberal Party and the Labor Party, further reinforces the role of party identification in shaping political attitudes. The average age tends to be older among those who vote for conservative parties like the Liberals, Nationals, and LNP, while progressive parties like the Greens tend to attract younger voters.
While the Liberal Party is right-leaning, it is considered more centrist or left-leaning compared to the Republican Party in the US. The Labor Party, akin to the Democrats, is generally left-leaning and has traditionally represented the working class. The Greens, a significant fourth party, are similar to the more progressive wing of the Democrats, with a focus on social and economic progressivism.
Overall, party identification in Australia is influenced by spatial politics, compulsory voting, and the unique characteristics of the country's political parties within the context of a two-party system.
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Voter demographics
Age and Gender
Age and gender play a significant role in shaping political attitudes in Australia. Generally, young Australians, especially women, tend to favour left-of-centre parties. Young Australian women are moving sharply to the left, reflecting a global trend of increasing progressiveness among young women. On the other hand, young Australian men, particularly those from Gen Z, are showing a shift towards more conservative ideologies, mirroring trends in countries like the United States, China, South Korea, and Germany.
Education and Class
Educational attainment and social class also influence political attitudes. Highly educated and working-class voters tend to support left-wing parties. This trend is also observed among those who are non-religious and union-affiliated. The influence of education and class is intertwined with other factors, such as social networks and family backgrounds, which can reinforce or moderate these tendencies.
Policy Issues
Australian voters are increasingly driven by policy issues when making voting decisions. In recent years, left-leaning issues like the environment, health, and Medicare have been front-and-centre for many Australians. This shift towards policy-driven voting has resulted in a diminished sense of party loyalty, with voters becoming more willing to shift allegiances, including towards independent alternatives.
Climate Action
Climate change is a prominent and divisive issue in Australian politics. There are social and political divides along demographic and ideological lines. Younger voters tend to exhibit stronger support for reducing emissions and addressing climate change, while older voters are less likely to prioritise these issues. This has resulted in a growing majority of voters who recognise the importance of climate action, even if the shift in attitudes across the broader population is gradual.
Media Influence
The media plays a significant role in shaping voter attitudes and decision-making in Australia. With the complexity of political and policy issues, voters often rely on media sources for information and analysis. This influence can be amplified by politicians, who use the media to reach voters and set the agenda for political discussion.
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Voter turnout
However, voter turnout trends in recent years can be misleading due to rising enrolment rates. While the raw turnout numbers are high, the turnout rate as a percentage of enrolled voters has been declining. For example, the voter turnout for the 2022 federal election was 89.82%, the lowest in modern history, and a slight increase is anticipated for the 2025 federal election, with a projected turnout rate of around 90%. This projected turnout rate is still lower than the 2019 federal election, which had a turnout rate of 92.41%.
It is important to note that Australia is one of only around 13% of democracies worldwide that have compulsory voting. This compulsory voting may contribute to the high enrolment and turnout rates seen in Australia. The prospect of a fine for not voting motivates citizens to enrol and vote, and political parties do not need to employ theatrics to encourage voting.
The high enrolment and turnout rates in Australia are a result of significant efforts over the past fifteen years. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) provides a comprehensive range of voting options and works hard to increase participation. However, the AEC acknowledges that many factors influencing turnout are beyond its control.
When measuring voter turnout, it is essential to distinguish between enrolment and participation rates. Enrolment rates refer to the proportion of eligible citizens who have registered to vote, while turnout or participation rates refer to the proportion of enrolled citizens who actually cast a vote. In the context of rising enrolment rates, focusing solely on turnout rates without considering participation rates can be misleading.
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Climate action
Australia has been characterised as a “laggard” on climate policy, despite rising support for climate action in opinion polls. In the 2019 federal election, dubbed the "climate election", the opposition campaigned on ambitious climate action, but the government retained power with a status quo policy. This outcome suggests that while Australians largely support climate action, they do not necessarily vote based on this issue.
There is a clear divide in attitudes towards climate action between younger and older Australians, with younger people generally holding stronger pro-climate attitudes. This trend is also reflected in voting preferences, as support for climate action is associated with voting for progressive political parties. Additionally, higher levels of education are linked to more positive attitudes towards climate action.
The polarisation of climate policy support is asymmetrical, with left-wing voters overestimating and right-wing voters underestimating this polarisation. Despite this, there is support for climate policy across the political spectrum. However, the willingness to incur personal costs for strong policy action is limited, especially among conservative voters.
Australia's absence from the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 and its withdrawal from international climate funding programs have contributed to its reputation as an international laggard on climate action. Toxic politics and divisive narratives, such as the "climate versus jobs" debate, have hindered constructive engagement on climate change and energy transition, particularly in coal-producing regions.
Despite these challenges, there is a growing majority of Australian voters who accept the need for climate action. Polling shows that 79% of Australians care about climate change, with an even higher percentage concerned about its impact on bushfires. This indicates a strong mandate for political leaders to reflect this concern in the nation's climate policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia operates as a two-party system, with a coalition between the Liberal Party and the National Party. The Greens are a major fourth party, and there are other groups in Parliament, such as Teal Independents and other minor parties. Voting is compulsory, and the country has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system since Federation in 1901.
Australians have shown broad satisfaction with the direction of the country and its democracy, particularly among younger and university-educated Australians. However, there is a persistent distrust in key institutions such as the federal government and social media. Economic and social factors, including financial stress and loneliness, are strongly associated with political attitudes, with financially stressed and lonely individuals reporting lower satisfaction with democracy and reduced trust in institutions.
Australian voters rely more heavily on spatial politics, or where they place themselves on the left-right spectrum, than on their beliefs about which party best reflects their views on specific issues. This is partly due to compulsory voting, which means that many Australians vote to avoid a fine rather than out of a strong political conviction. As a result, Australian politics and campaigning tend to be less dramatic than in other countries.
